A quick post this week as I am feeling very tired! You forget how tiring it is sometimes to work part time as well as being on placement and studying... It catches up with you sometimes!
So last week was my 3rd week of placement (really cannot believe how fast it goes!) and during the week I continued developing my skills further in each area I am working. I began looking into more depth on how to assess an upper limb and I now have the confidence to deliver some cognitive and mood assessments independently.
Every patient I see, I find their presentation after stroke fascinating. For example; last week I met a patient with a severe left sided neglect. This meant they no longer had any awareness of the left side of their body and it no longer existed to them. This presented as sensory and visual neglect where the patient could only read the words on the right hand side of a page and would only eat the food on the right side of their plate! The OT will put some visual scanning activities in place for the patient to complete to work on scanning and looking over to their left side.
I have been busy planning activities for my art group which is planned to take place on 5th May! I must admit it has been fun!
Making salt dough!
This is an idea for a stroke patient who used to have a passion for baking. Unfortunately, due to the affects of their stroke, they now have a peg feed tube fitted meaning they are nil by mouth. I wanted to give them an activity to involve the process of mixing ingredients, however with the salt dough you can bake it and paint it - making decorations. This will promote use of fine motor skills, sensory input, planning and sequencing skills. I really hope that they enjoy it.
I have also been completing risk assessments and researching into the use of creative arts in stroke recovery - of which there seems to be a really good evidence base! On the topic of research - on Tuesday I used my study day to travel up to Carlisle for the student research conference. I wanted to experience what it will entail for me this time next year! And also wanted to gain some insight into other people's ideas and methods of research. I have to say, I came away that day feeling very inspired and positive about my research proposal even though I know it's going to be tough!
And finally... because being on this placement has really opened up my eyes to the effects of stroke and it is an area that is personally close to my heart, I wanted to do something to raise some money and awareness of stroke (May is Stroke month!). So I will be participating in "Step Out for Stroke" which is a sponsored walk on the 16th May for the Stroke Association! I'm looking forward to it!
Please feel free to visit my just giving page - any donation will go a long way to make a difference
Thank you :)
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